One of the key features of the kitchen, the sink is used for cleaning, meal preparation, and general house upkeep. It is an essential space in many houses, used for pasta draining, fresh vegetable rinsing, dishwashing, and other tasks. Deep basins are ideal for thawing meat without creating a mess. You can also use the kitchen sink to soak dishes that have food on to them, which will make cleaning them up simpler later. Considering the wide range of uses and applications, it’s critical to choose your kitchen sink material carefully.
Read also: Eco-friendly Countertops Materials For Your Kitchen
Best Materials For Kitchen Sink To Choose From
Stainless steel
Stainless steel is the most popular material for kitchen sinks. In addition to its well-known qualities of resistance to water, corrosion, and microbes, this material is also frequently acknowledged for its exceptional durability and scratch resistance. For almost every kitchen, stainless steel is a great option. Its heat resistance, ease of cleaning, and attractive stainless steel finish make it an excellent match for appliances with chrome or stainless steel finishes.
Stainless steel can make a lot of noise when dishes, pots, pans, or utensils are dropped into the sink, which is a disadvantage. Water stains are the only issue with stainless steel, other from this small issue.
Copper
Copper is not often the first material that comes to mind when most people think about kitchen sinks. But for keeping the house tidy, this kitchen sink material is a great choice.
In addition, copper creates a visually appealing focal point that makes the kitchen sink stand out. It’s crucial to take into account both the high cost and the material’s poor durability when choosing copper kitchen sinks. Although copper has a beautiful appearance, a family house with young children might not want to choose it because it is prone to dents, scratches, and dings from heavy or sharp items.
Enameled Cast Iron
Enamelated cast iron is a highly durable material that is a great choice for a kitchen sink. Even though cast iron is a sturdy material that won’t bend or rust, it’s still crucial to make sure the cabinets can support the sink’s weight without buckling or warping. Because of its non-porous and stain-resistant enameled covering, the cast iron is shielded against moisture, rust, and corrosion.
Kitchen sinks made of enameled cast iron come in a multitude of shapes and varieties. It should be noted, nonetheless, that heavy or sharp objects have the potential to chip or harm the enameled layer covering the cast iron foundation.
Granite-Composite
Another option made by combining natural stone and acrylic resin are kitchen sinks made of granite composite. To be more precise, natural granite and acrylic resin are combined to create this heat-resistant substance that resembles real stone. This material has a high degree of durability and is impervious to stains, chips, scratches, and cracks, making it a fantastic choice for busy kitchens.
Although breakable plates and glasses are likely to shatter when put on this material, it also reduces the sound of goods being dropped into the sink. This is why it’s preferable to put objects in the sink as opposed to dropping or tossing them.
Fireclay
A fireclay kitchen sink’s lengthy lifespan—which allows it to withstand years of frequent usage without needing to be replaced—is its best feature. Better suited for enduring wear and tear than enameled cast iron is fireclay. This kind of kitchen sink can withstand dents, stains, and scratches, but depending on how often and how severely it is used, it might eventually need to be reglazed.
The color choices for fireclay sinks is somewhat small, and in order to withstand the weight of the fireclay, reinforced countertops and cabinetry are needed.
Quartz Composite
A quartz composite kitchen sink is a fantastic choice if the weaknesses of solid surface acrylic resin or enameled kitchen sinks worry you. Made with a combination of natural stone and acrylic resin, this low-cost yet highly durable material aims to replicate the appearance and texture of an authentic natural stone sink.
Heat, cracks, scratches, and stains are all very difficult for quartz composite to withstand. You won’t have to worry about loud noises if you drop a pan or utensil into the sink because the material helps to reduce sounds. Keeping this kind of sink clean with water and mild soap is also not too difficult.
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, so it’s not surprising that its natural patina, antibacterial qualities, and appealing appearance make it a popular material for kitchen sinks. Not only is it more expensive than copper, but it is also somewhat stronger than copper.
Furthermore, brass isn’t a particularly strong material. Because of its susceptibility to dings, dents, scratches, and harsh chemicals, you should only use mild soap and water to clean the sink in order to prevent wearing away the finish. You will also need to seal the brass sink to keep it safe if you do not like the way the patina that develops on brass looks over time.
Read also: Should You Paint Your Kitchen Countertops